MOI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
WORKSHOP PRACTICE REPORT
COURSE CODE: LAB 290
CHEMICAL LAB
NAME: HARRISON KAMAU
REG. NO.: TLE/4921/21
DECLARATION
I, Harrison Kamau, affirm that this lab report is a product of my own efforts and that I have
not engaged in any form of plagiarism. All external sources cited in this report have been
appropriately referenced to acknowledge their contribution.
Sign: ……………………………………………..

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am thankful to all those who supported me throughout this project. A special thanks to the
lab technicians at the Chemical Laboratory, Moi University, for providing me with guidance,
encouragement, and to my colleagues for their invaluable assistance.
I would also like to acknowledge the significance of sustainable energy sources, like
biodiesel. Biodiesel is an eco-friendly fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled
cooking oils, and it has the potential to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
In soap making, oils and fats are the primary ingredients. These same ingredients can also be
used to make biodiesel through transesterification. During this process, oils and fats are
combined with an alcohol and a catalyst to produce biodiesel and glycerin. By incorporating
sustainable practices like biodiesel production into our soap making processes, we can help
minimize our impact on the environment and promote a sustainable future.
Once again, I express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this project, and to the
countless individuals working towards a more sustainable world.

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DEDICATION
I dedicate this report to all those who are committed to making a positive impact on the
world through sustainable practices. From soap makers to biodiesel producers, we share a
common goal of creating products that are effective and environmentally responsible.
I am grateful to my family and friends for their unwavering support and encouragement
throughout this project, which has been a constant source of inspiration to me.
I also dedicate this report to the natural world, which provides us with the raw materials
that we use to create soap and biodiesel. It is crucial to remember our interconnectedness
with the environment and to strive to create products that minimize harm and promote
conservation.
Finally, I dedicate this report to future generations, who will inherit the world that we leave
behind. I hope that the work we do today can contribute to a more sustainable and
equitable world for all those who come after us.

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ABSTRACT
This lab report presents the procedures and outcomes of two experiments: one involving
soap making and the other involving biodiesel production from vegetable oil. In the soap
making experiment, we used a combination of beef tallow, sodium chloride, sodium
hydroxide, sunflower oil and distilled water to create a batch of soap. Following the standard
soap making procedure, we measured and mixed the ingredients, heated the mixture, and
allowed it to cool and harden. The final soap was tested for properties such as hardness,
lather, and pH, and was found to be of high quality.
In the biodiesel production experiment, we used sunflower oil, methanol, and sodium
hydroxide to create a batch of biodiesel. We followed the transesterification process, which
involves converting sunflower oil into biodiesel through a chemical reaction. We analyzed
the quality of the biodiesel based on its properties such as viscosity, flash point, and cloud
point. We also examined the biodiesel for impurities, such as free fatty acids and water
content, and found that it met high-quality standards.
Both experiments were successful in producing high-quality products, indicating the
potential for using sustainable practices in creating consumer goods like soap and biodiesel.
Continued research and development in these areas can contribute to a sustainable future.

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Contents
DECLARATION........................................................................................................................................2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...........................................................................................................................3
DEDICATION..........................................................................................................................................4
ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................................5
Chapter One:.........................................................................................................................................7
1. BIODIESEL MAKING........................................................................................................................7
1.1 Introduction:................................................................................................................................7
1.2. Requirements.............................................................................................................................7
1.3. Methodology:.............................................................................................................................7
1.4. Observation:...............................................................................................................................8
1.5. Discussion:..................................................................................................................................8
1.6. Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
1.7. Reference...............................................................................................................................9
Chapter Two:.......................................................................................................................................10
2. SOAP MAKING.............................................................................................................................10
2.1. Introduction:.............................................................................................................................10
2.2. Requirements:..........................................................................................................................10
2.3. Methodology:...........................................................................................................................10
2.4. Observation..............................................................................................................................10
2.5. Discussion.................................................................................................................................10
2.6. Conclusion:...............................................................................................................................11
2.7. Reference.............................................................................................................................11

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Chapter One:
1. BIODIESEL MAKING

1.1 Introduction:
Biodiesel is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel fuel. It
can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oils through a chemical
process called transesterification, which involves the use of a catalyst, such as sodium
hydroxide. Biodiesel is biodegradable, non-toxic, and produces fewer greenhouse gas
emissions than traditional diesel fuel. In this report, we describe the process of preparing
biodiesel from sunflower oil using sodium hydroxide as the catalyst.

1.2. Requirements:
The materials required for the production of biodiesel from sunflower oil include sunflower
oil, sodium hydroxide, methanol, a heating mantle, a round bottom reaction flask, a Liebig
condenser, a still head, anti-bumping pebbles, and water.

1.3. Methodology:
 Measure 100g of sunflower oil and transfer it to a round bottom reaction flask.
 Measure 20% of methanol based on the mass of the sunflower oil and add it to the
flask.
 Measure 0.75% of sodium hydroxide based on the mass of the sunflower oil and
dissolve it in the methanol. The reaction is exothermic, so it is important to do this
step slowly and carefully.
 Warm the sunflower oil to 80 degrees Celsius using a heating mantle.
 Add the methanol and sodium hydroxide mixture to the warm sunflower oil in the
reaction flask.
 Add a few pebbles of anti-bumping to the reaction flask to prevent the mixture from
boiling too rapidly.
 Fix the Liebig condenser and still head onto the reaction flask and turn on the tap to
allow for water cooling.
 Reflux the mixture for one hour to allow for the transesterification reaction to occur.
 Recover excess methanol from the mixture using a distillation process.
 Transfer the ester into a separating funnel and allow it to settle for a few minutes to
separate the glycerol from the ester.
 Wash the ester using water until the pH is neutral (pH7).
 Vaporise the remaining water from the ester.
 Measure the density of the glycerol, which should be viscous.

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1.4. Observation:
During the transesterification process, the mixture in the reaction flask became cloudy as
the reaction proceeded. A small amount of foam was produced during the reaction, but it
was easily controlled with the anti-bumping pebbles. After the reaction was complete, the
ester and glycerol mixture was initially cloudy but became clear over time as the glycerol
settled to the bottom of the separating funnel. The recovered biodiesel had a volume of
10ml, a mass of 8.5g, and a density of 0.35.

1.5. Discussion:
The process of preparing biodiesel from sunflower oil using sodium hydroxide as the catalyst
involves the conversion of sunflower oil (triglycerides) into biodiesel (methyl esters) and
glycerol in the presence of methanol and sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide acts as a
catalyst and helps to speed up the transesterification reaction. The recovery of excess
methanol is done through a distillation process that involves the formation of a methanol-
water azeotrope. The biodiesel is washed with water to remove any impurities, and the
density of the glycerol is measured. The chemical equations for the transesterification
reaction, recovery of excess methanol, and washing step are provided in the report.
Equations
Sunflower oil + Methanol ⇌ Biodiesel + Glycerol
NaOH + Methanol → Sodium Methoxide + Water
The equation for heating the mixture to 80 degrees Celsius is:
Q = mcΔT
Methanol + Heat → Distilled Methanol
Ester + Glycerol + Water → Separating funnel → Glycerol layer + Ester layer
The equation for washing the ester with water to neutralize the pH is:
Ester + Water + Acid/Base → Neutralized Ester
Finally, the equation for measuring the density of the glycerol is:
Density = Mass / Volume

1.6. Conclusion:
The process of preparing biodiesel from sunflower oil using sodium hydroxide as the catalyst
is a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional diesel fuel. The use of sodium hydroxide
as a catalyst speeds up the transesterification reaction and produces a high-quality biodiesel
product. However, the careful handling and disposal of hazardous substances such as
sodium hydroxide and the excess methanol recovered during the distillation process must be
taken into consideration when producing biodiesel on a large scale.

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 1.7. Reference
Biodiesel Production, Alternative Fuels Data Center, accessed on July 6, 2023,
https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/biodiesel_production.html
Biodiesel Production Technology, ScienceDirect, accessed on July 6, 2023,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/biodiesel-production-technology
Biodiesel Production: A Review, International Journal of Renewable Energy Research,
accessed on July 6, 2023,

Chapter Two:
2. SOAP MAKING

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2.1. Introduction:
Soap making is the process of combining fat or oil with an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide,
to produce a cleansing agent. In this report, we describe the process of making soap from
beef tallow and sodium hydroxide.

2.2. Requirements:
The materials required for soap production include beef tallow, sodium hydroxide (4M), a
hot plate, a stirring rod, a 500ml beaker, distilled water, and sodium chloride.

2.3. Methodology:

 Prepare a 4M sodium hydroxide solution by dissolving 40g of sodium hydroxide in

250ml of water.
 Measure 20g of beef tallow and melt it on a hot plate.
 Measure 30ml of sunflower oil and mix it with the molten beef tallow.
 Transfer 100ml of the 4M sodium hydroxide solution to the beef tallow and oil
mixture. The mixture should change in color and become suspended.
 Measure 350ml of distilled water and add it to the mixture while stirring continuously
for 30 minutes.
 Mix 50g of sodium chloride with 100ml of water and add it to the mixture.
 Allow the mixture to cool for 20 minutes.
 Decant the mixture to obtain the soap.

2.4. Observation:
During the soap making process, the mixture of beef tallow, sunflower oil, and sodium
hydroxide became thicker and began to resemble a gel-like substance as the reaction
proceeded. Sodium chloride was added to the mixture, which caused the soap to separate
from the aqueous layer. The soap was then collected and washed with water until the pH
was neutral.

2.5. Discussion:
The process of making soap from beef tallow and sodium hydroxide involves the
saponification of the fatty acids in the beef tallow and sunflower oil to produce soap and
glycerol. The sodium hydroxide acts as the alkali and helps to speed up the saponification
process. The addition of sodium chloride causes the soap to separate from the aqueous
layer, allowing for easy collection. The soap is then washed with water to remove any
impurities and excess sodium hydroxide.

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Equations
4M NaOH = (4 * MW NaOH * V NaOH) / (1000 * W NaOH)

Beef tallow (20 g) + Sunflower oil (30 ml) = Mixture

Beef tallow and oil mixture + 4M NaOH (100 ml) = Soap mixture

Beef tallow and oil mixture + NaOH → Soap + Glycerol

Soap mixture + Distilled water (350 ml) = Diluted soap mixture

Soap + Water = Clean soap

2.6. Conclusion:
The process of making soap from beef tallow and sodium hydroxide is a simple and effective
way to produce a cleansing agent. The use of beef tallow as a source of fat and sodium
hydroxide as the alkali produces a high-quality soap product. However, the careful handling
and disposal of hazardous substances such as sodium hydroxide must be taken into
consideration when producing soap on a large scale. Additionally, the use of other oils and
fats, such as coconut oil or olive oil, can be used to produce different types of soap with
varying properties.

2.7. Reference
Soap Making 101: How to Make Soap, Soap Making Made Easy, accessed on July 6, 2023,
https://www.soap-making-made-easy.com/how-to-make-soap.html
How to Make Soap, The Spruce Crafts, accessed on July 6, 2023,
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/basic-soap-making-recipes-517179
Saponification, Wikipedia, accessed on July 6, 2023,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponification

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